Mail box



Nov. 26, 1929. J. H. WARD, JR

MAIL BOX File Aug- 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .lllm mqmm mlm ilmm Jamaafil Vard J2,

Nov. 26, 1929. J. H. WARD, JR

MAIL BOX Filed Aug. 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jame [in mad g WM, A4747 Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNETED STATES PATENT GFFHCE JAMES H. WARD, JR., OF GARY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE FEDERAL MAIL BOX 00., INC., OF GARY, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA MAIL BOX Application filed August 15, 1925.

The present invention relates to mail boxes. More particularly the present invention relates to mail boxes suitable for use in apar ment buildings or in other places Where it is desirable to have a battery of mail receptacles which may all be opened simultaneously by any person having the proper key and which permits the selective opening of each of said receptacles by a person having the individual key without permitting access to the others of said receptacles. Though, as indicated, the invention has a broader significance, nevertheless, for the purpose of convenience, the description will be limited more or less to mail boxes suitable for use in apartment buildings and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mail box or multiple receptacle device which has improved sturdiness and presents improved simplicity over prior devices as known and used.

A further object is to provide a mail box having a plurality of compartments which compartments may be opened in a single movement for the insertion of mail, which mail box comprises a backing member and a readily separable cover member, which cover member is securely held in position, however, until a master lock is operated.

A further object is to provide a mail box having a plurality of receptacles and hinged closures for said receptacles, which mail box is simple to manufacture and sturdy in construction.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referringv to thedrawings Figure 1 is a view inrfront elevation of a mail box embodying the principles of the present invention, part of the front being shown broken away to illustrate the interior construction;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the planes indicated by the arrows 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken along the Serial No. 50,389.

plane indicated by the arrows 4-4 of Figure 3.

Considered broadly, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention comprises two primary members, the box or casing 1 and the closure member 2, said casing 1 being adapted to be fitted into or on the wall of a building, and the closure 2 being, according to an important aspect of the present invention, adapted to be wholly removed from the casing 1. Preferably all the parts of said casing and said closure member are of metal.

Said casino; 1 is made up of the sheet metal member 3, which is bent to form the top and bottom walls 44, and the back wall 5. Projecting forwardly from said back wall are a series of walls 6-6, two of which are illustrated in Figure 1. Said walls 66 comprise the end walls and partition walls, which provide a plurality of compartments, five compartments being shown in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention. In order to provide said five compartments, six walls 6 are provided, which walls are equispaced. Said Walls 66 have portions projecting from their end and rear edges which extend through apertures in the top, bottom and rear walls of the casing 1 and are riveted over, as indicated by the numeral 6', whereby to provide rigid connections between said walls 66 and the top, bottom and rear walls of casing 1. Secured to the forward portion of the casing 1 is the ornamental face plate 7, which in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention takes a channel formation of which the inner flange is disposed inwardly of the casing 1 and is secured to said casing 1 by means of rivets. Rivets such as are preferred for securing the face plate 7 to the top and two side walls of the casing 1 are indicated by the numeral 8. For securing the face plate 7 to the bottom wall of the casing 1 rivets of novel conformation are preferred, said rivets being indicated by the numeral 9. Said rivets 9 not only secure the inner flange of the channeled face plate 7 to the rear wall of the casing 1, but provide upstanding pins for swingingly mounting the closure member 2, in a manner which will be referred to hereinafter. If preferred, a reinforcing strip of metal 10 may underlie the top wall 4 of the casing 1. The rear wall 5 of the casing 1 may be provided with apertures for the reception of screws 11, or other preferred holding means, which may be readily operated when the closure member 2 is removed from the casing 1 but which are protected against attack when said closure member 2 is in closed position.

Struck inwardly from the rear wall 3 of the casing 1 are a plurality of stop members 12, which cooperate with the swinging closure member 2 to limit swinging movement of said closure member 2, in a manner which will be referred to hereinafter.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention the swinging closure member 2 comprises a plurality of channel-shaped sheet metal members 13-13, which are secured together in close proximity to one another and fit within the face plate 7 of the casing 1. Each of said members 13-13 is flanged at its upper and lower extremities, as indicated by the numerals 14 in Figure 3, the lower flanges being provided with apertures for receiving the upstanding pins 9-9. Said members 13-13 are also flanged along their side edges, as indicated by the numeral 15 in Figure 3. As many members 13-13 are provided as there are compartments within the casing 1. Each of said members 13 is provided inwardly thereof with a pair of walls 16-16 mounted inwardly of the two side flanges 15-15 of each of the members 13. Rivets are provided for holding said partition walls 16-16in engagement with said flanges 15-15 of the members 13. Said walls 16-16 are flanged over at their bottom extremities, as indicated by the numerals 17-17 in Figure 4, which flanged over portions support the bottom members 18-18, said bottom members 18-18 being riveted to said flanged over portions 17. Inasmuch as the walls 16-16 are disposed on the inner edges of adjacent flanges 15-15 of the members 13-13, adjacent walls 16-16 are spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive between them the partitions 6-6 of the casing 1. The walls disposed inwardly of the flanges 15-15 of the members 13-13 have swedged out portions 19 for the reception of the two upturned ends of a hinge pin 20.

The hinge pin 20 associated with each of the members 13 provides a pivotal support for the swinging door 21 located in each ofthe members 13. Each of the doors 21-21 is provided with a reinforcing backing member 22, which backing member is swedged to provide a loop 23 for engagement with the hinge pin 20. Said hinge pin 20 is securely held by reason of its engagement with the flanges 15-15 and the swedged out portions 19 of the walls 16-16. The door 21 and the loop portion 23 of the backing 22 form a housing for the hinge pin 20, whereby said hinge pin 20 forms an effective pivotal support for the door 21. Each of the doors 21 has a cut out portion 24. The backing 22 is swedged rearwardly adjacent to the opening 24, as indicated by the numeral 25, whereby to form a pocket for the reception of an identification card. Said rearwardly swedged portion 25 may extend from one side to the other of the door 21, whereby to simplify the insertion of removal of a card. Said backing member 22 may be provided with the vertically disposed ribs 26 for strengthening purposes. A peep hole 27 is provided in each of the doors for permitting observation of the interior of the box without opening said doors. Each of said doors 21 is provided near its lower extremity with the lock 28, having the keeper bolt 29 adapted to register with a hole in the bottom member 18 of the closure member 2. The door member 21 may extend to a region slightly below the upper limit of the bottom member 18. whereby said bottom member acts as a stop for closing movement of the door 21. If preferred, the bottom member 18 may be provided with the ribs 30 for strengthening purposes. As indicated in Figure 3, the bottom member 18 extends to a position in proximity to the rear wall 5 of the casing 1. Swinging movement of the closure 2 is stopped by reason of engagement of the rear extremities of the bottom members 18 with the stop members 12. Preferably said stop members 12 permit the swinging of the closure member 2 to such a degree that the center of mass of the closure member 2 will lie outwardly of the pivotal axis of said closure member 2, whereby when said closure member 2 is swung to open position the force of gravity will hold it in open position, whereby the job of the postman in depositing mail in the mail box will be simplified.

For the purpose of reinforcing the upper extremities of the walls 16-16, said walls may be provided with flanged over portions 31, which flanged over portions are riveted to the longitudinally extending strap 32, the partition walls 6-6 of the casing l bein suitably slotted whereby said strap 32 wiil not interfere with the closing of the closure member 2.

The closure member 2 is provided with the master lock 33, which will be controlled by the postman, or other person having authority to open the mail box. Said postman or other authorized person, when he desires to open the box for depositing mail or for any other purpose, will operate the master lock 33 and swing the closure member 2 upon the pins 19-19, the extent of pivotal movement being limited by reason of the engagement of the bottom members 18-18 with e stop members 12-12. The members 12 serve not only as stop members for the bottom members 1818, but also serve to deflect mail away from the space between the rear wall 5 of the casing 1 and the rear extremity of the bottom member 18. There is no danger, therefore, of mail jamming between said bottom members 18 and the rear of the casing 1. As noted above, when the closure member 2 is swung to the outer limit of its swinging movement the weight of said closure member will bias same to open position, whereby the various compartments may be supplied with mail very conveniently. After the postman or other authorized person has finished the job of filing the mail within the various compartments, he will swing the closure member 2 to closed position and will lock the master lock 33. Those persons having keys controlling the various doors 21-21 may get their mail from their individual compartments by operating the locks 2828 of the individual doors 2121.

It should be noted that the casing 1 may be secured to the wall of the building on the inside with the screws 1111 or other holding means. It is impossible to get at said screws 1111 except when the closure member 2 is in open position. Inasmuch as the closure member 2 may be opened only by a person having a key which will operate the master lock 33, the surreptitious removal of the mail box is effectually prevented.

By reason of the fact that the closure memher 2 is hinged upon the pins 9, it is possible to entirely remove said closure member 2 from the casing 1 after said closure member 2 has been swung to open position. The matter of mounting the casing 1 upon a wall or other support is therefore greatly simplified. Moreover, if jamming should occur, or if repairs should be necessary, the matter of getting at the interior of the mail box presents no difficulties to a person of authority; that is. a person having the necessary key to operate the lock 33.

Attention is also directed particularly to the simple and sturdy structure involved in the individual doors 2121 with their reinforcing backing members 2222. Said backing members, together with their corresponding doors, provide housings for the hinged pins 2020, pockets for cards to be viewed through the openings 24, and mounting means for the locks 28. Said backing members 22, in addition to the functions above referred to, greatly strengthen the doors 21, whereby sturdy doors may be provided at a minimum of expense. The members 13-13 with their walls 1616, hinge pins 20E2O and doors 2121 are handled as units, and the matter of assembly is a very simple one.

The upper flange 14 of each member 13 provides a convenient means for bearing indicia relative to the manufacturers numbers relating to locks 2828 of the various doors 2121. The lock number of each lock 28 may be placed upon said upper flange 14: above the corresponding lock 28, whereby if the keys of any of said locks should be lost together with the lock numbers thereof, any authorized person may learn the lock number of the lock corresponding to his door by inquiring of the postman, who is the only person who can provide access to the indicia on said upper flange 14.

Though a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A mail box comprising a metallic casing, a closure member therefor swingingly mounted upon said casing, a face plate bounding the outer edge of said casing, rivets for recuring said face plate and casing together, the rivets at the bottom of said casing being extended through a portion of said closure member to provde pivotal mounting means therefor.

2. A mail box comprising, in combination. a casing and a closure member therefor, said closure member being made up of a plurality of flanged members placed side by side, walls secured to the flanges of said flanged members, and hinge pins having end portions secured between said flanges and said walls.

A mail box comprising, in combination, a metallic casing, a face plate bounding the forward edge thereof, rivets uniting said casing to said face plate, a swinging closure member for said casing, said closure member being provided with a plurality of walls dividing same into a plurality of compartments, certain of said rivets having projecting extremities mounted in apertures in said closure member, whereby to provide a hinge connection between said casing and said closure member.

at. In a mail box comprising a casing and a closure member. said box having means dividing same into a plurality of compartments, doors in said closure member providing communication to the individual compartments, hinge pins for said doors, and a reinforcing backing plate rigidly secured to each of said doors for strengthening said doors, each of said backing plates being substantially coextensive with its corresponding door and being shaped to form a housing for its corresponding hinge pin and to provide a pocket for the reception of an identification card, the corresponding door being apertured in front of said pocket.

5. A mail box comprising a casing, a closure member therefor, sa d closure member consisting of a plurality of plates placed side by side and secured together, walls carried by said plates, a hinged door in each of said plates and a hinge pin for each of said doors, said hinge pin being supported by said plates and said Walls.

6. A mail box comprising a casing and a readily removable closure member hinged thereto, said closure member including a plurality of flanged plates placed side by side and connected together, Walls carried by said flanged plates, doors in said plates and hinge pins for said doors supported by said flanged plates and said Walls.

7. In a mail box, in combination, a casing comprising an open-sided box, a flanged face plate bounding said box on the open s de thereof, rivets for securing said box to said face plate, certain of said rivets, spaced along one side of said box, having extension members, a closure member for said box, said extension members fitting Within apertures in said closure member, whereby to swingingly support said closure member.

8. In a mail box, in combination, a casing comprising an open-sided box. aflanged face plate bounding said box on the open side thereof, rivets for securing said box to said face plate, certain of said rivets, spaced along one side of said box, having extension members, a closure member for said box, said extension members fitting Within apertures in said closure member, whereby to swingingly support said closure member, said closure member comprising a plurality of plates secured together, Walls carried by said plates for dividing said mail box into compartments, doors in said plates for providing access to said compartments, and hinge pins for said doors supported by said plates and said Walls.

9. A mail box comprising, in combination, an opensided box, partitions secured to three walls of said box and dividing said box into con'ipartments, a closure member swingingly supported by said box, said closure member comprising a plurality of plates placed side by side and secured together, walls carried by said plates and adapted to cooperate With sa d partitions, bottom walls for said closure member, struck out mail deflecting members carried by the rear Wall of said box, said bottom members and said deflecting members being adapted to abut to limit the opening movement of said closure member.

10. A mail box comprising an open-sided box and a closure member therefor, said closure member being made up of a plurality of plates secured together, walls secured to said plates for forming compartments, doors in said closure member communicating With said compartments, reinforcing backing members for said doc-rs, and hinge pins for said doors, each of said backing members being formed to provide a housing for its corresponding pin and to form a pocket for the reception of a card.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 13th day of August, 1925.

JAMES H. WVARD, JR. 

